The old man walked along the dusty trail. A mostly overgrown path that meandered along the side of the lake. A little black and white dog ranged ahead of him,running back from time to time as if to check on him. As he plodded along thoughts ran through his head, mostly regret which is the worse for a person his age. Regret that he and his wife had visited Mexico last year, regret that the lung disease had taken her so fast, but mostly regret that the damn boat had run out of gas and left him here to face several hours of walking. Seeing a tree with a good amount of shade just ahead made the decision to take a break.
“Minnie, come on back girl” he called. The dog perked her ears at hearing his voice and came galloping back to pant at his feet. Slowly and painfully he sat on the slightly damp grass and leaned back on the tree, sighing with relief. ‘Lucky we had a couple of water bottles left over from last week Min, or we would be drinking lake water,”. Minnie seemed to agree as she greedily drank from his cupped hands as he tilted the bottle into them. Putting the mostly empty bottle back into his side bag he checked his phone again for reception, nothing still. Deciding on a short rest he closed his eyes and put his hat behind his neck, just for a moment he thought, as he drifted off he seemed to see mountains in the distance. “I must be losing it more than I thought, no mountains even close to here’. Minnie curled up on his lap and started to snore as they both took a well deserved break.
The lake was busy with air chair riders and with conventional water skiers alike. No one seemed to notice the man snoozing under a tree not far from the shore, not the fishers in their aluminum boats and canoes. Not the skiers in their power boats with the stereos booming across the water. Even the sight of the small boat pulled up to shore made no one question it. It was doubtful that anyone would recognize the boat as it was a new purchase and this was its first voyage. A particular loud boom of music made the man start awake. “Damn, what the hell kind of crap do people listen too”.
The little dog had been jarred awake too and gave a stretch and a barking yawn as if laughing. Holding on to the trunk of the tree the man hobbled to his feet and also stretched. Looking ahead at the trail he knew he was being stupidly stubborn, it would have been much easier to try to wave to a boat for help but it was just not in him to ask for help that way. Not lately anyway. Calling to his dog he started walking down the trail toward the south and hopefully eventually to his campground.
The breeze felt wonderful on his sweaty face and neck and he took his hat off to cool the sweat from his head too. Minnie’s tongue was hanging out and her tail was up and happy. She danced around him as if to herd him along. “Ok ok, I get it, lets get a move on and hopefully we can make hit home by dark.”. As he walked on the faint trail was changing into a grey gravelled path with even borders that told of constant care, but this made no sense. This was farm land grazed on by cattle and horses. Not really working farmland just graze land. The sounds of the lake, motors and music, had long faded away and had been replaced by birds and wind. Booming long over the land the wind was steady and cool. Only broken by the occasional copse of trees or the large grey stones left by long ago glaciers. The sky was not as blue as it had been, more of an icy blue than the happy blue of summer. Again in the distance the mountains seemed to loom closer and closer as the man and his dog walked on through the endless afternoon.
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Hours, days later, it seemed that time was standing still while he was walking along but it made no sense. This road was not on any map and neither were the apple orchards that were on either side of the road. Catching sight of the occasional worker around the trees he tried to catch their attention but the men and women seemed to be scattering on purpose when he waved and called to them. Waving back and then merging into the trees without talking to him at all. Smoke trails in the sky showed the presence of people ahead and hopefully a place to call for a ride home. “Lunch too huh Min, sandwich’s, meat sandwich’s?”. At this Minnie pawed at his knee and yipped excitedly . “Ok, lets go.”. Standing straight and having a back stretch the old man started walking with a bit more purpose.
The dirt road cutting through the orchard was slowly giving way to a gravel track with the occasional rock cairn marking directions or destinations from the main, road as it had come to be. The distant smoke was coming closer, the wind had picked up and become cooler with the faint taste and smell of salt, fish, tar. The gravel had somehow changed colour to a dull pinkish white bordered by a low rock wall. The trees were no longer few and spindly in the orchard but large and established, heavy with fruit. “This can’t be right, I must have had a stroke and I am lying under a tree back at the lake dying”, he mused looking at Minnie. “I’m sorry little one, I wish you didn’t have to go too”. “Dammit I wish I left you with one of the kids but it’s so lonely these days.”.
It was beginning to get chilly so he made the decision to keep moving, delusion or not. Getting up from where he had been sitting on the low wall, something seemed to reach out snd catch his eye. A simple wooden signpost with a two sided arrow adorning the top, one pointing the way he had come and another pointing on ward. Hither was the word inscribed on the arrow pointing the way he had come. Yonder was showing the way to go. Simply written but showing the signs of both age and weather. A decision needed to be made. As he looked closer at the sign the words seemed to pop out, more and more until they hung in front of his face. Reaching out his hand passed thru the now glowing words, visible behind them. “I must look a real fool, grasping at nothing. Come on Min, let’s go see what’s over yonder.” As the words came out of his mouth the glowing words changed…
Are you sure…this decision is irreversible. Yes or no. Speak your choice.
“Yes.” It seemed to leap out of his throat beyond his control. Driven by loss, need, curiosity, no thought was required. The sign faded away as soon as he spoke and so did the wall it had been supporting it. The way was open in front of them, time to go on.